Friday, 30 November 2012

I'm back again with a new challenge over at Totally Papercrafts! This week our lovely Cathy has challenged us to make 'something Christmassy - but not a card! and we're sponsored this week by Wild Rose Studios, with 2 stamps for the winning entry! So I decided to make a little 'treat' box

I've used a piece of coredinations card to make the box. The tree dp is from K&Co and the cute image is from Digital Delights 'Christmas Kids', coloured with promarkers and the little flower is from a Tonic punch. The tag has a LOTV stamp on it, with a Marianne die cut poinsettia and a gingham bow.

Not sure the chocolates are going to last until Christmas though....!

So do have a look at what Christmas creations - apart from cards! - that you can make and join us over at Totally Papercrafts!

Good morning and it's Friday, so time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz! And we've got a great one this week chosen by our lovely DT member Naomi, who wants to see us crafters recycle or re-use something that we would have perhaps thrown away! There are some fantastic - and very inventive! - samples from the DT over at the CraftyCatz challenge blog so do have a look for some inspiration.

I must confess that I had to think for a while before I came up with this one!

I decided to make a Christmas hanging decoration from an old cd!

The image is from our sponsors this week, The Stamp Fairy, and I coloured it with promarkers

I've added some stickles and Flowersoft 'snow' and a few snowflakes from a Tonic punch. The hanging thread is some bakers twine.

Hope you like my 'recycling' idea!

So have a look through some of the things you might throw away - and then see how you could revamp them on your craft table!

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Good morning all and hope that your week is going well. I can't believe that it's Wednesday already - the days just seem to be speeding by and I feel like I'm running to catch up! I realised that I didn't put a post on at the beginning of the week like I usually do, but have been busy with building works at home, doing some crafty projects that I can share with you soon (!) and doing the actual 'paid' variety of work as well! And a really scary thought that hit me yesterday was that it's now only 4 weeks to Christmas! Every year I promise myself that I'm going to be all organised next year, with presents wrapped, cards sorted, etc. - and every year I seem to fail miserably. But with the dawning realisation that on Saturday it's 1st December, I'd better get myself into gear and sort out Christmas card lists and pressie lists. My darling (!) husband thinks I treat it all like a military operation and that I should relax and 'go with the flow'.... Except he's not the one who makes meals, feeds the (what feels like) constant stream of family & friends, buys presents for offspring, etc. Sigh. Perhaps I should just take a back seat, although I have a feeling that if I did then 'Christmas' just wouldn't happen lol!

Sorry to have a moan! But I'm afraid I'm going to have another grumble about today's card... Do you ever make a card or project and just get the feeling that something is 'missing' or out of place? I've done that with this card! I'm not sure if the colours aren't right, or the layout or what - but it just feels as though it's not as it should be - if that makes sense!

I've coloured this cute pair - a stamp from LOTV if you hadn't guessed lol! - with promarkers, and some distress inks on the edges

The 'denim' backing paper is from Joanna Sheen, with some coredinations card embossed with the Cuttlebug 'Swiss dots' folder and then lightly sanded back. I've added some hessian weave and the cute wooden dominoes from CraftyEmblies. The sentiment tag is from LOTV.

So still not sure what's missing, I've a feeling it's probably the colour choices and that I've done it all a bit dark and muted. Mind you, they might look a bit odd in bright pink tops....

Oh well, I'll have another look at it later and it might get submitted to some 'editing'!

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Good morning all and hope that your weekend has been going well? And I hope that those of you in the UK are coping with the pretty rotten weather? We have the ongoing works on our bathroom - but thankfully have a loo and running water but considering the terrible rainfall and floods that some have had to deal with it seems an irony that I'm thrilled to have the running water lol! I will be so pleased to get the work finished - and it is a bit of a challenge having what seems like a constant stream of builders/plumbers/joiners/plasterers, etc., traipsing through the hall and up and down stairs and I've made countless cups of tea and coffee this week! Tilly the Dog has quite enjoyed it all and the workmen all make a fuss of her and say what a 'sturdy' little dog she is (which I think translates as 'fat'!). Poppy the cat however, is not so happy about it all, hates disruption to her 20+ hours a day snoozing, and particularly doesn't like strange men! But I'm hoping that by this time next week that most of the work will have been done and then there'll just be the flooring to do. At least it'll be all nice for Christmas (fingers crossed!) - but then it'll put the rest of the house to shame lol!

Anyway, on to today's card. I've used the image 'Spit happens' from Mo's Digital Pencil - just love that facial expression!

I've tried to keep to a fairly neutral colour palette of promarkers with soft shades so that it could be suitable for boy or girl - but think that maybe it all looks a bit washed out! And then realised after I'd shaded the ground/carpet underneath the baby that I'd coloured it with brownish shades (hope it doesn't look like there's been a nasty accident....?). Oops!

The backing paper is from K&Co, layered onto coredinations card, with stitched edges. The ribbon & buttons are from stash and the cute little sentiments are from LOTV, with some added pastel brads.

So I hope that your Sunday goes well - whatever you have planned!

And a big thank you for all the lovely comments that you leave - I can't tell you how much they mean!

Friday, 23 November 2012

I'm back again with a new Friday challenge over at CraftyCatz! We had some great entries last week - so pleased that Mr Random chooses a winner! This week our lovely Dianne has chosen the challenge of
"Snowflakes, Stars and Sentiment" - so we want to see all three of those elements on your creation!

I've used one of the gorgeously cute new digi stamps from Whimsy on my card today, from Chrissy's Digis called 'Star of Bethlehem'. I've coloured the image with soft pastel colours of promarkers with a chalked 'sky' and some Stickles on the star!

The snowflake backing paper is from LOTV. I've added some hessian mesh, some pretty lace, a sheer ribbon bow and a wooden star button from Crafty Emblies.

The sentiment is from Chocolate Baroque - distressed around the edges.

I think it has quite a 'gentle' feel to it - if that makes sense lol!

Hope you like it!

So get in the festive mood with the snowflakes and stars and join us at CraftyCatz!

Good morning all - can't believe that it's Friday again already! Mind you, it has seemed a very long week at times.... We've had the builders in all week as our bathroom is having a very long-overdue makeover and has been stripped back to bare brickwork! Yesterday I thought they were taking part in a Guinness World Record challenge of 'how many builders can you fit in a bathroom' - with a plumber, joiner and two plasterers! Sigh. And it's a very long day when you have no loo! I just keep thinking "It'll all be worth it"!

Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at Totally Papercrafts. And can I just say a big warm welcome to our new DT members at TPC! This week our lovely Susan has challenged us to get 'Stitched Up' - so we want to see some stitching (either real or faux) on your card.

We're sponsored this week by A Day for Daisies, and I've used one of their images 'Mum Girl'

I've coloured her with promarkers. The backing papers are from First Edition 'Summer Breeze' - with added stitching of course!

The flowers are from Wild Orchid, with Poppystamps 'meadow leaf' die cuts. The corners are from Spellbinders 'Persian Motifs' with added pearls.

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Good morning all and hope your week has started well? The weather here is pretty dreadful with wind and rain - I much prefer cold crisp mornings, frost and sunshine! Our builders are in doing our bathroom - with lots of banging, drilling and thudding going on. I keep repeating the mantra "It'll all be worth it" - but I wish I could fast forward things a bit! It does make you realise how much we take things like constant running water and a flushing toilet for granted! Tilly the Dog has been great, she loves having visitors in and tries to help (whether they want her or not!) so my main challenge is to keep her out of the way. Poppy the Grumpy Cat however, spent most of the day yesterday grumbling and in a sulk under our bed. Oh dear.

Anyway, just thought I'd share a bit more festive cross stitching with you today. Over the past couple of years I've made quite a few (well, a lot really lol!) of these little padded hangers, many of which we have up at home at Christmas and quite a few have been given to family and friends. Although I enjoy a big project, it is very rewarding to make these smaller items as they are quickly finished!

This is roughly about 4" square, stitched on 14 count aida. I've added some sparkly thread in with the red embroidery threads for the lettering and some red beads for the holly berries

So they're quite quick and easy to do, but do look cute especially either hanging from the tree or hanging round the fireplace (which ours are!).

Hope you like it. Well, I'd better go and get the kettle on again for the builders!

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Good morning all in Blogland and hope that your weekend has been going well. It's a quiet Sunday morning here - at the moment. It probably won't last long though! My daughter has headed off to work (she does a weekend/holiday job whilst she's at uni) and my son and his friend (who stayed over - we call him our 'other son' as he seems to semi-live at our house) haven't emerged from the pit yet. As 14 year olds with a new X-Box game they were pretty occupied last night - until the Big Bad Bear (i.e. me!) said they'd got to turn things off and get to bed! Spoilsport! But my hubby and I will probably be clearing stuff out today - we've got builders coming in tomorrow to do some long-overdue work on our bathroom and much as I'm looking forward to it being done I'm dreading the mess and upheaval. However, Tilly the Dog will enjoy having workmen here - there's always the chance of some extra fuss and attention and she's always willing to sit and share their lunches with them if given the opportunity! Poppy the Grumpy Cat hates workmen though and will probably spend most of the next week or so grumbling and growling. I've got visions of her heading off down the road with her belongings tied in a knotted handkerchief....!

Anyway, on to today's card. I thought I'd share with you the card I made for my eldest step-daughter Charlotte's birthday that was last week

I used a Sarah Kay stamp 'Time for Apple Pie' and coloured her with promarkers and pencils

And for once I was quite pleased with my colouring (I'm usually my own worst critic!). The backing papers are from Teresa Collins and First Edition, with coredinations card for matting & layering. I've used a Spellbinders floral oval die, with some added stitching and lace. The little wooden embellishment is from CraftyEmblies, and the heart die is a Marianne one.

The scrummy flowers are from Wild Orchid of course

and the inside was decorated to match

I was quite pleased with the red and beige colours together, I think they worked ok.

I hope you like it!

Well, I'd better set off with a very big rubbish bag to start clearing out - it's amazing how much clutter one family can accumulate!

Friday, 16 November 2012

Hello and I'm back again as it's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz! And this week the challenge is a nice easy one for this time of year - 'Let's see some sparkle'!
We're sponsored this week by
and I've used one of their images for my card

I've coloured the image with promarkers and then added LOTS of Stickles...

I just wish all the glittery bits would show up better on my pics! I've also added some pearl drops for the snow.

The glittery green backing paper is from K&Co with some spotty ribbon from Joanna Sheen. The die cut Christmas trees came from my stash and I've had them so long I've forgotten where I got them! The cute little silver snowman was 'robbed' from some Christmas decorations. I've noticed us crafters can never look at things properly - we always look at them and starting calculating how we could use them in our crafting....

So I do hope you'll get carried away with the glitter and join us for some sparkle at CraftyCatz.

Good morning and the week seems to have passed in a flash once more! I can't believe that it's Christmas in just over 5 weeks - how scary is that???
Anyway, as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge at Totally Papercrafts. And this week was definitely a challenge for me! Our Lovely Lisa has chosen the challenge 'CAS - Black & White'. Now I browse around lots of blog out there in Blogland and some people do fantastic CAS cards, but when I try it mine always look unfinished! But, I thought I'd be brave and have a go...

I think I managed the Black & White - but the CAS is probably a bit dodgy.... I don't think my crafting brain is geared to a clean and simple layout.

Anyway, I've used a tree stamp and sentiment both from Chocolate Baroque, with some added pearls and gems on the tree. These are matted onto silver mirri card, with some b&w gingham ribbon (from Joanna Sheen). The die cut flower was made with a Sizzix die.

So after all the huffing and puffing while I tried to decide what to do, I was quite pleased with it when I'd finished, although it's perhaps a bit on the simple side!

So I do hope that you'll join in with us this week at Totally Papercrafts. I'd love to get some more CAS inspiration from everyone!

Wednesday, 14 November 2012

Hello to all in Blogland and just a quick post from me today (thank goodness I hear the cry!). It's one of those days where there seems to be a stack of jobs in front of me - and only limited time (and limited inclination!) to do them. Sigh.
I decided to make a 'criss cross' card today - not sure what the proper name for them is but that's what I call them!

Apologies for the rather gloomy photo - not sure whether to blame the pretty dismal daylight we've got at the moment, my camera (or rather, my son's camera!) or the rubbish photographer....

I've used a Little Claire design stamp 'Birdhouse Garland' and coloured it with promarkers.

The backing papers are coredinations card and Teresa Collins dp. I used a Tonic punch for the border edges and some sheer ribbon from Joanna Sheen as a 'tie'

Then inside I've used a Spellbinders die and Marianne dies for the bird and birdhouse.

I've kept to quite autumnal colours - but perhaps with the grey skies I should have gone for bright vivid colours lol!

Anyway, I'll head off and attempt to get on with jobs. I'll try to get around everyone's blogs over the next day or so - life seems to have taken over a bit at the moment as it sometimes does.

But a very big thank you for all the lovely comments that you leave on my little crafting creations! Without that sort of encouragement I don't think I'd have as much enthusiasm for doing the crafting!

Monday, 12 November 2012

Good afternoon from a very grey, dismal and damp Lancashire UK! After the frosty sunshine of yesterday, we're back to what I suppose is a typical November day for us, with dark grey skies, drizzling rain and the sort of chilly dampness that seems to invade the house. Roll on spring! The only 'nice' thing about this sort of weather is that I get a great sense of 'Home' and comfort when the fire gets lit, candles are lit (I've got a rather worrying fetish for candles...) and it all feels warm and cosy.

Anyway, I thought that I'd share a bit of cross stitch with you for a change today.

This little decoration was made with some gold-flecked aida fabric and odds and ends of green embroidery threads, and then some different coloured beads threaded and stitched across for the garlands. The pattern came from an old American cross stitch magazine. There are some fabulous American stitching patterns and magazines, but some are hard to find in the UK. However, I managed to pick up a couple from a second-hand book shop a while ago, and one of them had some fantastic Christmas decorations and patterns in - which is where this came from! I've made several decorations from them which will probably be appearing on here over the coming weeks! I must confess that I love to decorate our home up at Christmas and probably go a bit OTT with white lights (I don't like coloured ones lol!), candles and cross stitched bits and pieces!

So hope you like it!

But just before I go I'd just like to wish my eldest step-daughter Charlotte a very happy birthday today!

Sunday, 11 November 2012

Lest we forget
Good morning all, and I hope that your weekend has been going well. It's what I think is described as a 'crisp' morning here, i.e. sunny, bright, and b****y freezing! Mind you, I'm quite happy to cope with the cold temperature when the pay-off is that the sun is shining! Those who follow my blog on a fairly regular basis, and tolerate the moaning!, will be pleased to know that the decorating is now finished - woo hoo! I'm very pleased with it (thank goodness!), although it's nothing fancy, just a plain light cream, but everything feels fresh and clean and tidy. However, I've a feeling that, this being our house, the 'tidy' bit won't last very long! A full day's wallpapering on Thursday very nearly finished me off - but I kept telling myself that it was good exercise... When I was complaining of aching back and shoulders on Friday at work my boss looked amazed that I'd been decorating on my own. "Where's Colin?" he asked (of my non-decorating husband), "At work", I replied. Then I did explain that in the interests of marital harmony it was better for all concerned that we did these activities separately and not together! As my father died when I was very young, I grew up in an all-female household and so am firmly of the opinion that women are more than capable of taking on such tasks - we always did at home!

Anyway, less of the waffling (which seems to be the usual Sunday morning ritual now!). As I look out over a rather sad and uninspiring garden I thought I'd share a card with you that hints at the promise of all that spring has to offer - when it finally gets here again!

I've used a gorgeous Sarah Kay stamp 'Gardens need many helpers' and coloured him with promarkers.

The backing paper is from Teresa Collins. I've added a panel of coredinations card embossed with a CraftsToo folder, then used a DooHickey 'lovely fence', Spellbinders 'Fall Foliage' leaves and a Memory Box 'Arboscello Tree' dies. That cute wooden duck is from CraftyEmblies!

And inside

is a pocket to hold a packet of flower seeds! The papers here are from K&Co and coredinations (edged with some sheer ribbon) and the sentiment is from LOTV.

Friday, 9 November 2012

Yes, I'm back again! It's time for a new challenge over at CraftyCatz and this week our lovely Sassy has chosen the theme of 'Anything Goes'! So, no excuse! A nice easy challenge for everyone.
My card this week uses one of the cute little guys from LOTV

I've coloured him with promarkers and stuck to quite a simple layout for this one (well, as CAS as my cards ever seem to get!). The backing papers are from First Edition. I've added a few loops of twine and then found some cute alphabet beads in my stash (when I was moving all my stuff to decorate lol!) and threaded them onto some hessian twine. The aqua gingham ribbon is from Joanna Sheen.

Good morning all and hope that your Friday is starting well. And as it's Friday it's time for a new challenge over at Totally Papercrafts - and the theme for this week, chosen by our lovely Wendy is 'Cute & Girly'! So a pretty easy one for me I have to confess!

Our sponsors this week are Saturated Canary and I've used one of Krista's gorgeous images, Nevaeh

I've coloured her with promarkers and pencils. I love the folds on the dress!

The backing papers are from the beautiful First Edition 'SummerBreeze'. I've added some pretty lace from my stash (I tend to buy bits and pieces at my local haberdashery shop whenever something takes my fancy!). I've added a die cut swirl and flowers (Marianne dies) with added pearls. The sheer ribbon is from Joanna Sheen and the filigree butterfly is from Wild Orchid.

So get all girly and join us at Totally Papercrafts this week and the winner will receive 2 images from Saturated Canary!

Wednesday, 7 November 2012

Good morning all and hope that your week is going well. Wednesday seems to have zoomed round quickly again! Tilly the Dog coped very well with Bonfire Night on Monday and all the fireworks going off (it did sound like a re-enactment of the Somme at times outside). She tried to hide behind the sofa a couple of times but then couldn't turn round to get back again and I did have visions of my new wallpaper getting scratched as she tried some bizarre yoga positions to turn! So she had to shift into reverse gear and shuffle backwards - and it's quite funny watching our pudding of a dog doing a reverse waddle from the back of the sofa! But hopefully now most of the fireworks have finished - and the cold frosty weather we had has now changed to grey damp November drizzle.

Anyway, I'd like to share a card with you today that was made for the Whimsy Design Challenge - and a new challenge for November is starting over at Whimsy Inspires 'Traditional Christmas Colours' so that leaves plenty of scope for everyone!

This was made with a digi stamp from Whimsy - a Lia Stampz 'Andrew'.

I've coloured the image with promarkers and pencils. I made a tri-fold 6" square card. The backing papers are from First Edition with lovely traditional Christmas colours and images.

The holly corners are from a Cheery Lynn die with some red beads for berries, and then some sheer ribbon and some red seam binding in a bow.

So very traditional Christmas colours from me. Do pop over to the Whimsy Inspires challenge and have a look at some of the fabulous samples the design team have produced - and then join in!

Monday, 5 November 2012

Hi and hope that your week has started well? I've had another busy day - paintbrush in hand once more. We have quite a big room - well, it's two rooms that were knocked into one big lounge. Now please don't think I'm a moaner (!) but 99% of the time I do like having a big lounge.....- until it comes to decorating! And I'm sure it magically expands as I'm doing it! It's partly my fault I suppose for being so independent (or bossy as my husband probably defines it) and insisting that I can do the decorating on my own - but I will be so glad when it's done! Hey ho.
The other thing is that I'm missing doing my crafting! I try to make a little time on most days to do some crafting of some sort, but I've either had no time or been too tired to start this last few days! But I'm determined that the decorating should all be finished by this weekend - and hopefully some normality can resume!
Anyway, today's card is one I made a week or so ago (before the other sort of papercrafting and colouring took over lol!)

I got this stamp of 'Winter Fairy Talva' from Mo's Digi pencil because I thought she was gorgeous! I've coloured her with promarkers and pencils - although I'm still not too happy with her hair! I must practice my 'curly hair' colouring! I stuck to shades of blue, with lots of added glitter and Stickles. I also added Glossy Accents to the icicles on her wings - but unfortunately it's not really showing up

The backing papers were printed from the Artylicious 'Seasons Greetings' cd from Chocolate Baroque, with lightly sanded coredinations card for matting. The snowflakes were from mirri card with a Tonic punch and some added pearls from stash. The sentiment is from LOTV and the sheer ribbon is from Joanna Sheen.

I decided to make this into a 6" square gatefold

Hope you like my Winter Fairy!

I'll be back soon - and promise not to bore you with more decorating reports!

Sunday, 4 November 2012

Hope that your weekend has gone well? I seem to have had a really busy week, both trying to get on with the decorating at home and getting cards ready for the Whimsy new releases, so unfortunately haven't got a card to share with you today - although I know I usually post one on a Sunday!
We've had a slightly chaotic weekend, what with the house being in a greater than usual state of upheaval and we've also got builders coming in 2 weeks so need to get things ready for them! And to top it all we've had fireworks going off for Bonfire night celebrations - which started last night, have carried on tonight and will (hopefully!) come to an end tomorrow! Now grumpy Poppy doesn't particularly bother much about the noisy fireworks - she just glares at us all as if we've personally disturbed her. But unfortunately Tilly the Dog really isn't very keen. She doesn't have full blown panic attacks thankfully, but she gets quite stressed and paces about the lounge and tries to sit on your knee (all 24kgs of her....!). But just thought I'd share a couple of pics with you - when my delightful offspring decided they'd found a way to help her overcome her fear of the 'big bangs'....

Poor Tilly! Lauren had worn her ear-muffs when they went out to watch the firework display at the nearby Castle (as it's definitely on the cold & frosty side here!) - but her and Jack decided that they suited the dog better. I have to say, Tilly seemed quite content to wear them too!

Hope that's made you smile. If you ever need a smile, do have a look at some of the great pics people email to me that are on my 'Smile' page!

From then until 4th November the Whimsy Digital DT and Special Guests are showcasing these fabulous new goodies with a daily mini blog hop and I am part of today’s hop! Each mini blog hop has a new release prize hidden somewhere along the way and you have 24hrs to enter each prize draw. To be entered into today's mini blog hop prize draw, be sure to leave a comment on ALL of the DT's posts listed below by 12.00PM EST tomorrow. All winners will be announced on the Whimsy blog on 5th November

To take a peek at today's fabulous new release creations, please click on the links below...

Remember that the entire new release is available to buy right now from the Whimsy Stamps store along with all your Whimsy favourites. Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to pop back to the Whimsy blog tomorrow for more new release creations!

And today I've made a Christmas Card using one of the new releases from Moon Cookie Gallery - 'Trimming the Tree'. It's a set of great images - and I loved this cute tree!

I've coloured the image with copics and promarkers and added a little distress inks to all edges, and the 'garlands' on the tree were made with a Viva pearl pen and glass pen. The papers are from K&Co and Dovecraft. The sentiment is also from Whimsy, and the embellishment, buttons & gingham ribbon are from stash (in fact, I think the leaf was stolen from a Christmas decoration! oops!).
Enjoy your weekend! Back soon, Kim x